MOUNTAIN BIRDER: HAM WALL

Spent a day at RSPB Ham Wall last weekend 29th May it's part of the Somerset levels and a place that is teaming with wildlife. It's a place I've always wanted to visit and a chance to see a Bittern one of quite a few species of bird that have for one reason or another eluded me over the years. We stayed at Glastonbury in the Premier Inn arriving on Friday evening, we stayed overnight so we could get up really early have breakfast and head off to the reserve.

We arrived at the reserve at about 7am not that early I know but to the wife that's the middle of the night. As soon as we walked onto the path that leads into the reserve we could hear booming Bitterns so at least we knew they were there. There were birds everywhere calling and moving swiftly amongst the thick foliage. The ever elusive Cetti's Warbler which I'd love to get a photo of was calling constantly from inside the thick hedges and bushes but would not show enough of itself so I could get a decent image. This Blackcap did come out into the open and so I managed a few shots of him as he started singing away.

blackcap

As we were heading towards the reed beds and the pools flying over head were these cormorants.

cormorants

Another reedbed specialist is the Marsh Harrier and we were not disappointed as there were a pair flying over the reed beds quite regularly. Best area we found was at the Avalon hide where I managed some half decent images of the male but the female stayed quite a distance away.

male marsh harrier

distant female

I was well pleased after watching the Marsh Harriers so we took the chance for a smug selfie.

Here's a couple more species from the hide.

great crested grebe with chick

pochard

Another species on my wanted list and up until a couple of years ago were pretty rare in the UK was the Great White Egret. Well another one ticked off the list as this huge white Heron dropped into one of the pools.

great white egret

Walking around there were plenty of common birds about like this Wren in the reeds.

wren

And what I think is a lovely portrait pic of this Robin.

robin

But I had visited here to see and hopefully photograph a Bittern, and like I said earlier they were booming everywhere but every time we stopped to wait and watch not a sniff of one. It seemed everyone was asking if anyone had seen one but it seemed as if they were staying deep in the reedbeds.

Walking back along one of the pools I noticed in the corner of my eye a dark bird flying over my shoulder, I spun around and there it was in all it's glory my first Bittern.

first bittern

botaurus stellaris

I managed to rattle off a few shots heart beating like the clappers hoping that at least a couple of them would be in focus and usable for this blog.

Ham Wall had delivered, to say that I was mildly pleased would be a massive understatement, what a bird.

Besides all the great species that we'd seen what a place Ham Wall is, we had a fantastic day and I think even the wife is turning into an avid birder.